The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-08
THEFaR-1ERs. STATE CONVENTION
A Pleasant and Harmonious Gather
ing Of FarmerS--Ninety-xev Del
eSateS Present.
Special ta Neus and Cousier.

seven OeleSateS, representing twenty.
six counties Of this State, answered
to the roll at the opening Of the
Farmers Convention today. At IL
O'Clock last night it was thought that
the Convention would have bare
quorum. but it appears that the far
mers came in somehow and hence the
large attendance. There was much
caucusing this morning. A repre-
sentative of the Neers q: Courier ran
into one which was in session at the
Agricultural Hall. 1t was caucus
of Anti Tllmanites. so called because
they are opposed to any aggressive
action. There were from forty to
fifty delegates in the hall, and the
caucus appointed committee to wait
on the Tlllmanlte caucus, which. it
was said, was in session at tho Grand
Central Hotel, to confer with them.
1t is evident that there are two wings
in the Convention. and it is becom
ing more and more evident as the day
grows older that the disposition to
go slow is rapidly spreading.
The Convention met in Agricul-
tural Hall. The surroundings were
not as pleasant as those OF the other
two houses in session st the State
House, but the bureau had evidently
done its best to make things as
pleasant as possible. The large
stoves at the west end of the hall
were filled with fuel. and the icy
edge was taken off Of the freezing
atmosphere. which, however, still had
flavor of mustiness about it from
long disuse. There were some chairs
and a good many forms and bench
es afordiug sitting room for about
two hundred and fifty persons. At
the eastern end was very venerable
Office table, hoary with aye and bat.
tered by long years of service. This
was made to do duty for the presl.
dent, the secretaries and treasurer of
the Convention, and for the half
dozen newspaper men who were on
hand. The assemblage Of delegates
was characteristic OF their pursuit.
1t was essentially agricultural, clear
ly 40 intelligent, representative body
of South Carolina farmers.
Among the delegates were Seen
the familiar faces Of half dozen
members of the present General As.
sembly and Of score or more of ex-
members.
Mr.. D. X. Norris, Of Anderson,
the president. called the Convention
to order q few minutes after II and
addressed the delegates as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
"Gentlemen of the Convention A
merciful God has permitted you to
assemble again in the discharge of
duty that we owe to ourselves AMI to
the high calling Of which we are de.
voted followers, for the earnest, faith
ful and successful performance of
Which succeeding generations will
bless you. and the grand scheme ad
vocated and inaugurated by you for
its bettermeut. That the farmers
share Of the profits of the enormous
crops grown since the war have been
unjustly small, all unbiased men will
admit; that the agricultural interest
of the State is languishing no one
disputes; that the agriculture of the
State is rapidly passing into the
hands of the incompetent and shift
less no careful observer of passing
events will deny, and that the time
has come, and fully co ne, when
something should be done to arrest
this decadence in the States largest
interest, all are perfectly sg 'eed. To
assistin putting into operation causes
which will restore to the farmer
prosperity, ensble him by deep study
of agricultural science and genaral
education to build up again his lost
fortune and abandoned hope, and
to rival the advance in other lines Of
industrial progress. and save to the
farm the intelligence of The country.
is the task before you.
AT the last session of the Con-
vention it was thought wise in behalf
ofthe objects mentioned above to ask
Of our Legislature an enlargement of
on. board of agriculture and its or
ganization upon a more liberal basis
and the establishment of an agricul
tural college which would be worthy
of and would have the support Of the
farmers of the State. The former of
these bills passed the House. Ip the
Senate its final consideration was
postponed uutil the present session
of that body. The latter measure
was not pressed for reasons which
appeared sufficient. We are firmly
convinced of the Importance of these
measures and of the great auxiliary
help which they viii. give to the ag-
riculture Of the State, and they should
be no longer postponed. 1t is need.
less to discuss these or their merits.
Enough has been said through the
press during the past year to estsh
lish them in the minds Of all Of our
people who are not utterly blinded
bv selfconceit, dogmatism or s spirit
of opposition to progress. Indeed
there seems to he left very little
question of the merits Of the meas.
ures proposed, and the opponents,
finding themselves without argument,
would defeat their enactment by
jarring the sensitive nerve, the
pocket. If it were necessary. gen.
temen. it could be pointed out how
it is possible to inaugurate these
measures without adding to the bur.
dens of the people or detrscting
from the efficiency of the Govern